[52]
Yuri took care of Peter.
Along with saying he needed to be ground up for a miracle.
Though Peter struggled and begged to be spared, Chris pretended not to notice.
It was better not to resist when Yuri acted this way.
He was the type of person who, once he established a plan, had to follow it.
He would accept modifications for achieving objectives, but some essential elements remained fixed.
This time, it seemed Peter had become one of those essential elements.
‘I would have preferred to move with Yuri.’
Chris felt somewhat disappointed.
Both during the previous infiltration and this reconnaissance, he had been working separately from Yuri.
He wanted to finish the business in the Spring Continent and return to the Winter Continent quickly.
Though they wouldn’t be alone, no one would stop Chris from following Yuri around every day.
His entire job revolved around Yuri – bodyguard duties, attending to him, and such.
Chris went on several more reconnaissance missions afterward.
To determine from where and how to best observe Factories 4 and 8.
Surprisingly, the other factories were empty, so with proper timing, one could climb through their windows. From the upper floors, the interiors of both factories were clearly visible.
Judging this to be better than observing from the hillside, Chris identified their operating hours.
9 to 6.
From nine at night to six in the morning.
Around one o’clock, they took about thirty minutes for a meal break but didn’t leave their positions.
When two Espers came pulling carts, the worker on the far right would take out food and pass it to the left.
Trash was collected in the same manner.
To keep up with the schedule, they had to eat hurriedly as soon as they received the food.
Chris naturally learned who to monitor, where, and when.
Everyone moved in almost identical patterns at similar times.
‘Humans aren’t machines…’
It was extremely inhumane.
Still, the violent incident he witnessed on the first day was both the first and last.
The woman called Dahlia and the man always moved together. The man’s name was Mihir.
The two stepped outside the factory for the first time. When Dahlia moved, the plants surrounding the factory parted from the ground with a swish, revealing a hidden path.
What had been cleverly concealed by moss was a decently maintained paved road.
Wide enough for cars to pass.
‘I wonder if it’s fortunate that the supply route doesn’t lead underground.’
The reason the two came out was soon revealed.
Five fairly large trucks arrived one after another.
People who looked like civilians jumped out from the backs of the trucks. Judging by their movements, they didn’t seem to be Espers, but they were fully armed guards.
When they opened the truck’s back doors, even Chris could see what was inside.
‘So they are using Blue Tier as an energy source. And… that must be material for making drugs.’
There also appeared to be food supplies.
The people who had been talking went inside. Then workers from inside came out in two lines and began unloading goods from the trucks.
While Chris was noting the dates, item lists, and quantities:
“Daddy!”
‘A child?’
A child who looked about five or six ran out from Factory 8.
Chris felt his mind go blank with shock.
Before the child could reach their father, they tripped and fell with a crash.
“Wa-waaah!”
“This isn’t a daycare center.”
The Esper, Dahlia, scoffed.
Chris clearly witnessed tree roots that had been randomly spread suddenly rising just before the child tripped.
It was that woman’s doing.
Striding forward, Dahlia lifted the child up.
“Can’t you manage your child properly?”
“…I’m sorry.”
A woman working in Factory 8 rushed over and took care of the crying child.
Unable to check how badly the child was hurt, and unable to properly console them, she repeatedly bowed her head.
When the Esper jerked her chin as if to show them, she carried the child back into Factory 8.
The man who appeared to be the child’s father kept looking at the ground.
“What are you all standing around for!”
With the woman’s words, elongated vines lashed the ground like whips.
At that loud noise, those watching the situation quickly resumed their activities as if nothing had happened.
She forcefully compelled them to look away.
For those who had no choice but to turn away, this moment would leave a deep wound.
Chris recalled what Hannah had said:
“Listen well. When the body breaks, the mind breaks, and when the mind breaks, the body breaks. They are not separate but one.”
Those people would gradually become more listless.
Without even dreaming of rebellion, both their bodies and minds would become sick and docile.
Chris felt discomfort rising within him.
‘I should head back soon.’
He wished Anong would send the recording device before it got too late.
As if answering Chris’s expectations, Peter was sprawled on a chair when he returned to their lodgings.
“I’m going to… die like this…”
Before even checking on him, Chris noticed a box placed on the table.
Yuri, with wet hair, walked out from the inner room.
“They say it’s a lens for beasts. If you blink quickly three times, it captures what you’re seeing. The development period was short, so video recording functions couldn’t be included… Try it.”
“Yes.”
Immediately transforming into a wolf, Chris hesitated. With clawed front paws, there was no way he could insert the lenses into his eyes.
‘I might tear them up if I’m not careful.’
Having undergone special processing to directly contact the eyeball, it was much more fragile than a regular terminal – only slightly stronger than a lens.
“Whine…”
Chris looked at Yuri.
He saw Yuri letting out an “Ah” with a small laugh.
Seeing a wolf with both front paws on the table, looking up pitifully, was probably a rare opportunity.
“Come to think of it. I failed to consider the method of application.”
Clicking his tongue, Yuri gestured.
“Come here. I’ll do it for you.”
Chris immediately followed Yuri to the bedroom. Thinking he would be seated on the floor, Chris was surprised when Yuri sat on the bed and patted the space beside him.
After a moment’s hesitation, Chris climbed up, and Yuri took out the lenses from the box.
Instead of immediately putting them on, Yuri examined Chris carefully.
Then he unexpectedly spoke:
“Do you know your eyes turn golden when you become a wolf?”
Chris nodded slightly at the question.
He had confirmed this while staying at Northern Light.
Like the Chris of those days, Espers whose forms change have both states recorded.
He had once met a hologram of a silver-furred wolf as tall as himself when standing.
Even in human form, it felt like looking into a mirror.
“At first I thought it was a shame they weren’t blue… but this seems to suit you well enough.”
His lowered voice was so quiet it was hard to hear without leaning in.
But with an Esper’s enhanced senses, Chris couldn’t possibly miss Yuri’s words.
As gentle hands stroked the bridge of his nose, Chris tried not to open his mouth.
A wolf’s fangs were too large and sharp; one careless moment might injure Yuri.
Noticing Chris’s tension from his held breath, Yuri didn’t remove his hand.
The slow, deliberate touch was too respectful to be teasing, yet too dry to be an owner simply adoring their beast.
Where did he get such boldness, not even raising an eyebrow to a wolf that could swallow his head whole?
“Eyes.”
Yuri spoke.
“Don’t move them.”
Finally, Chris had no choice but to meet Yuri’s violet eyes.
The distance was too close.
Claws extended from tension dug into the soft mattress. Yuri slowly placed the lens onto the wolf’s golden eye.
His slender, delicate-looking fingers seemed especially fragile today.
After inserting the lens devices into both eyes, Yuri moved back.
“Blink. Check if there’s any discomfort.”
Chris blinked.
Though it felt slightly dryer than usual, it seemed more a result of having his eyes wide open for too long.
Nodding to indicate it was fine, he watched as Yuri rose, washed his hands, and came back.
“This should have taken enough test photos…”
Yuri muttered something as he turned on the terminal they had been provided.
Inside were photos of Yuri.
Yuri with wet hair.
Yuri reaching out his hand.
Yuri with his gaze strangely fixed on him…
Chris tensed his back involuntarily, wondering if he had really blinked that often.
‘I didn’t expect to see something like this.’
Yuri, after checking the photos, quietly murmured:
“So this is… how I look.”
As if satisfied with the confirmation, Yuri tapped the screen.
Noticing his attempt to delete the photos from the terminal, Chris urgently tried to stop him.
But failing to properly gauge his current size, strength, and center of gravity, he ended up pushing Yuri onto the bed.
Chris also lost his balance and collapsed on top of him.
Thud.
Something too small to be angel feathers floated gently around them.
Feathers from the blanket, punctured by Chris’s claws, were dancing down like snowflakes. Additionally, fur radiating from the wolf’s body scattered and softly reflected in the light.
‘Yuri!’
Realizing what he had underneath him, Chris froze completely.
Yuri, pinned under the fluffy, heavy mass of fur, stuck out an arm from beneath.
Feeling taps on his frozen shoulder, Chris awkwardly raised himself.
The silver wolf, retreating to the corner of the bed, glanced furtively at his master.
He looked like he was expecting punishment, checking Yuri’s reaction.
Yuri, who had kept his head down, soon began to shake.
“Ha, haha… hahaha!”
He was laughing.
With an innocent face Chris had never seen before.
